Assessment Report School of TAHSS Department: Anthropology Chair: Dr. Roger Kurtz Assessment Coordinator: Dr. Pilapa Esara Date of Presentation: Oct. 1, 2013

Anthropologys SLOs: Define basic concepts and methods in archaeology, biological anthropology and cultural anthropology (*assessed 12-13) Use relevant theoretical frameworks, employing qualitative or quantitative information, to address anthropological questions Describe the diversity of the human condition based on historical, archaeological, ethnographic or biological perspectives

Anthropologys SLOs: Frame relevant anthropological questions and select appropriate data-collection techniques in order to answer them Identify the parameters of an anthropological problem and use comparative analysis to formulate relevant questions Utilize anthropologically-derived data and concepts/perspectives to clarify issues of contemporary relevance Follow the appropriate procedures and protocols for obtaining informed consent or access permissions, in order to avoid harm or wrong to ones human or non- human subjects and descendants

Evaluation of Student learning Task: A section of the mid-term exam in three 200-level introductory courses Measurement strategy: Scores Sample size: N=113 students

Assessment Data: Benchmark of 80% exceeding or meeting 75/100

Results: What we learned Most of the students in the sampled courses have a satisfactory understanding of basic anthropological concepts Due to a variety of reasons related to memory, evolving comprehension of course material, varying teaching styles, and the timing of the assessment, a minority of students did not meet the benchmark and could benefit from additional teacher-led reinforcement of course content

Data-driven decisions: Closing The Loop Assessment results… Provoked discussion amongst faculty about teaching and learning within introductory courses Led to renewed faculty commitment to better facilitate students understanding of basic anthropological concepts and to reinforce their memory using a range of pedagogical techniques

Resources used to close the loop The faculty have chosen to use cost-free pedagogical techniques like incorporating more summarizing graphics into a lecture or offering pop- quizzes for immediate feedback, amongst others Resources on hand within the department are sufficient for the additional pedagogical techniques discussed